The Staresso is an outstanding portable mini espresso maker. Want to make barista quality espresso in your kitchen without breaking the bank on an espresso machine? The Staresso’s for you. It lets you make a decent espresso in under five minutes. And it saves you up to $178 per year.

I bought a Staresso espresso machine. I gave it away, but not before testing it well.

It’s an amazing espresso maker. Here’s why…

Makes great espresso

Before we get into anything else, let me tell you that the Staresso makes a lovely espresso.

The Staresso comes with a mini cleaning brush, spare o-ring and instructions on how to use it with capsules.

The Starreso’s serving cup.

The Starreso’s coffee basket.

The Starreso’s serving cup holder.

The Starreso’s top and bottom assembly.

The Starreso’s base.

The Starreso’s pump.

How to make an espresso

An espresso requires six to ten grams of fine coffee grounds, tamped into a portafilter basket through which you force 30ml to 45ml of water with a temperature of 90 degrees Celsius (194 Fahrenheit) at nine bars of pressure for 30 seconds.

The Staresso takes up to 80ml of water. It has two marks on the inside of the water chamber, one for a single shot espresso, one for a double shot. Can it make a double shot? I share that info further down below.

Pump the Staresso until all water is transferred from the water chamber into the cup.

A lovely espresso waiting in the cup.

Remove the top section from the cup holder.

Unscrew the base from the cup holder.

Remove the cup and enjoy your espresso.

Double espresso

A double espresso requires 15 grams of fine coffee grounds, tamped into a portafilter basket through which you force 60ml to 90ml of water with a temperature of 90 degrees Celsius (194 Fahrenheit) at nine bars of pressure for 30 seconds.

The Staresso’s water chamber allows for enough water to make a double espresso, however…

Final thoughts

If you’re looking for a premium portable espresso maker at a great price, you need the Staresso.

It makes a delicious espresso. The fact that a friend wanted to buy my Staresso after having tasted an espresso made with it (despite him owning a grand electric espresso machine), testifies that this is the real deal.

It’s cheap. Consider for a moment what an electric espresso maker puts you back. And once you have one, I wish you the best in sorting out technical issues.

It’s small. The Staresso is small enough to take along when you travel or go camping. Start your morning with a caffeine kick to the head, no matter where you are.

It’s mechanical. No electricity needed. If you have hot water, coffee grounds and the Staresso, you have an espresso.

It’s solid. The Staresso’s low price tag might have you believe it’s a low quality product. That’s not the case. The Staresso’s parts are made from high quality materials. It’s sturdy while you use it, and the rubber base makes it stand firm on a countertop.